Railroad-tie fastener.



C. WEANER.

RAILROAD TIE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FIITED AUG. 12. 1916.

1,220,035. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Witnesses Inventor J .65

Attorneys CORNELIUS WEANER, OF RISINGSUN, OHIO.

RAILROAD-TIE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 20, 191*? Application filed August 12, 1916. Serial No. 114,598.

The invention aims to provide novel means whereby a pair of springs which bear against opposed sides of the rail, may be protected, the protecting means constituting, also, a means for preventing the rotation of the shafts whereby the springs are tensioned.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, itbeing understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings 2-- Figure 1 shows in side elevation, one end of a tie equipped with the device forming the subject matter of this application, parts being in section;

- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental bottom plan of the tie; and

Fig. 4; is a top plan, wherein parts are broken away.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tie, preferably made of metal, and provided upon its lower face with a marginal flange 2 connected by cross flanges 3 to define a plurality of compartments 4;, in the bottom of the tie, the compartments being adapted to hold the ballast. The cross flanges 3 may be arranged as the exigencies of the proposed use, or the tastes of the manufacturer demand, and the compartments 4 may be of greater or less extent than shown in the drawings.

At each end of the tie, duplicate structures are provided whereby the rails may be held in place. Since these structures are alike, but one of them has been shown in the drawings, and the description of the novelfea-i tures of this invention will proceed in the singular number. v

At its ends, and upon its upper surface, the tie 1 is provided with spaced seats 5. Secured to or formed integrally with the tie 1 and projecting upwardly therefrom are outer ears 6. Inner ears 7 project upwardly from the tie.

Resting on the tie is a rail, comprising a ball 8, a web 9 and a flange 10. The flange 10 is engaged by the ears 6 and 7, so that the rail cannot move lengthwise of the tie.

J ournaled for rotation in the ears 6 and in the ears 7 are shafts 11. The shafts 11 are provided, between the ears 66 and 7-7, with slots 12. Spring holding members are provided, the same being in the form of metal plates. These plates at their inner ends terminate in lips 16 engaged in the slots 12 of the shafts 11.- The spring plates are coiled around the shafts 11 as indicated at 17, and are extended to form downwardly convexed arms 18 which bear against the opposed sides-of the web 90f the rail. At their upper ends, the spring plates are curved as shown at 19, to bear against the under edge of the ball 8, although, as a general statement, the spring plates may be con-' structed in any desired manner, provided that they engage opposite surfaces of the rail. The shafts 11 are equipped with squared ends 14:, adapted to receive a wrench or the like, whereby, when the shafts 11 are rotated, the spring plates may be caused to bear against opposite faces of the rail, to steady the rail and to hold the same in place. Exteriorly of the ears 6-6 and 77, the shafts 11 are equipped with ratchet holes 15, properly inclined to cooperate with holding pawls to be mentioned hereinafter. V

The invention comprises a pair of guards 20, preferably somewhat wider than the spring plates. The lower, outer ends of the guards 20 rest on the upper surface of the tie 1, and are equipped with depending fingers 21, removably received in the' plates and serve to house and protect the same. It is to be observed that the inner,

upper ends of the guards 20 project beneath the ball 8 of the rail. Consequently, water 5 running down the ball will be received by the guards 20 and, since the guards are downwardly inclined, the water will be deflected longitudinally of the tie 1, the spring plates being in this manner protected. It is to be observed, further, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, that the guards 20 extend above the upper edges of the ears 66 and 77. Consequently, Water will not run down the inner or adjacent faces of the ears 66 and 77, to the damage of the spring plates.

In practical operation, the shafts 11 are rotated by means of a wrench or other tool (not shown) the same being applied to the squared ends 1 1 of the shafts. When the shafts 11 are rotated in the manner above described, the portions 18 and 19 of the spring plates will be made to coact with the rail, in a manner which will be obvious from the drawings. In order to hold the springs under tension, the pawls 22 of the guards 20 are engaged with the ratchet holes 15 of the shafts 11, the fingers 21 of the guards being engaged removably in the seats 5. It is to be noted that the guards 20 exercise a double function, in that they serve to protect the spring holding members, and in that, further, they constitute a means whereby a reverse rotation of the shafts 11 is prevented. The shafts 11, on the other hand, exercise a double function, in that, first, they serve to secure and maintain a tension in the spring plates. Seoondly, reacting upon the pawls 22 through the medium of the shafts 11, the spring plates serve to maintain the .guards 20 in place on the tie, and, particularly, serve to keep the fingers 21 engaged in the seats 5.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is v p 1. In a device of the class described, a tie; a shaft journaled on the tie and having a ratchet; a spring rail holder projecting from the shaft; and a guard movably engaged at its outer end with the tie and extended above the holder, the guard having a pawl engaging the ratchet.

2. In a device of the class described, a tie provided with a seat; a shaft journaled on the tie and having a ratchet; a spring rail holder projecting from the shaft; and a guard extended above the holder, the guard being provided with a pawl engaging the ratchet, and being provided with a finger detachably received in the seat.

3. In a device of the class described, a tie; a rail resting on the tie and including a ball; a shaft journaled on the tie and having a ratchet; a spring rail holder projecting from the shaft and engaging the rail; and a guard movably engaged at its outer end with the tie, the inner end of the guard projecting beneath the ball, the guard extending above the holder, the guard having a pawl engaging the ratchet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CORNELIUS IVEANER.

Witnesses W. B. PHILLIPS, J. M. EDWARDS,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

